Venetian blind



Nov. IO, 1942. B. WALKER VENETIAN BLIND Filed Feb. 17, 1942 Fjs- F555.

5 Sheets-Shet l qll l Nov. 10, 1942. y B, `WALKER 2,301,485

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 sheets-sheet :aV

NOY. 10, 1942. B WALKER 2,301,485

VENETIAN BLIND Y Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet .'5

FIEJL Nav. 1o, 1942. B. WALKER 2,301,485

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fia-115.

IN VEN TOI?! /27- Nov. 10, 1942. B. WALKER 2,301,485

VNETIAN BLIND Filed Feb 17, 1942 l 5 SheeS-Sheet 5 20 .FTEJE Patented Nov. 10, 1942 vENE'rrAN BLIND Brooks Walker, Piedmont,v Calif. Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,215

15 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds and more particularly to the arrangement oi lifting cords and mechanism for operating them, particularly in the larger sizes oi blinds where it is necessary to use more than two vertical lifting cords in the blind assembly proper and where because of the size of the blind it is diiiicult to litt the blind directly by two or more lifting cords without the necessity of putting pulleys in the bottom rail to multiply the cord leverage. t,

My invention also pertains to improvements in reels for controlling the lift in the Venetian blind without the necessity of additional cord stops or locks outside of the reel, and particularly relative to braking mechanism which has a very substantial braking action in a direction resisting the gravity action of the biinds while.

very slight resistance during the rais- Other improvements are on oderin a ing operation. means of winding two they can be wound in a single reel space in order to wind all of the cords at the same rate throughout the entire lift. Other improvements include crank-operated lift mechanisms, spring angle' drives, devices for preventingy cords from becoming tangled when tension is released when wound on drum mechanisms that operate easily from the crank but cannot be operated by the pull oi the cords, variations cria construction of one directional braking, winding reels having increased leverage as .the blind approaches the top or more cords so that' and gets heavier, blinds incorporating springy counter balances insuilicient to lift the blind but combined with one-way brakes to support the weight where the spring counter balances take up the slack in the wind-up pulleys.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, etc.

The invention is described by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure .1 is a side view partly cut away showing a Venetian blind lifting reel embodying one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the portion .of the reel on which the lifting cord is wound.

Figure 3 is an end view through section 3-3 of Figure 1. j Figure 4 is a side view partly cut away showing another form of lifting reel embodying another iorm of my invention.

Figure 5 isa view of a portion of a reel as I shown in Figure 4 showing they detail of a lock which may be used for preventing the reel from winding in the wrong direction after the blind y has been fully lowered.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view ofthe lock tongue on the back plate of Figure 4.

Figure '1 is an end view'through section 1-1 in'Fi'gure 4.

Figure `8 is a side view partly cut away of a reel forming another variation of the invention.

Figure 9 is an end view through section 9-9 in Figure 8. y n

Figure 10 is a 'si e view of anotherform of the pulley incorporating another form of the invention. n

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side view' oi a Venetian blind incorporating another form oi` the invention utilizing a crank, a spring drive, and a one-way brake for winding four cords.

Figure 13 is an end view partly cut away at section I3-I 3 oi Figure l2.

Figure 14 is an end view section Il-II of Figure 12.

through section II--I I partly cut away at Figure 15 is an end view partly cut away oi'- vblind partly cut away incorporating a crankoperated lifting mechanism through a spring drive with decreasing radius pulleys as the blind is lifted and a one-way brake.

Figure 18 is an end view in section partlycut away taken at section Iii-i8 of Figure 17 showing a slight modiilcation of that shown in Figure 17'.

Figure 19 is a side view partly cut away of another form of blind construction incorporat,i ing still another form of the invention.

Figure 20 is a sectional view through section 2li- 2li of Figure 19.V

In all views like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the various drawings. In Figures 1, 2, and 3 I have shown a multiple reel 2li for windinga plurality of cords 2i which may be used for lifting a wide Venetian blind where one cord will be adjacent each of a number of ladder tapes.

The reel is composed of stamped hub sections 22 of approximately the same thickness as the diameter of the cord to be wound thereon. I'he hole 23 is assembled with the other partitions which form the pulley all of which have similarly spaced and sized holes so as to form a communicating hole throughout the entire pulley. When it is desired to secure a cord 2l in a given pulley groove, the end is inserted through the opening into hole 23, is fished out through the hole tothe outside of the pulley, a. knot is tied, and the cord is pulled back through into the hole 23. The knot, however, cannot pull outbecause the thicknessv of the hub 22 is only the same as the cord andthe knot therefore secures the cord end atthe `jhole 23. The form of the outlet of the hole, being curved, allows the pulley to be turned in either direction without kinking the cord 2| or bending it over a sharp edge which is detrimental in case a metallic cord is used.l

Partition members 25 separate the hub sectionsto form a groove in which the cords can be wound one row wide which has been found necessary when winding a number of cords to get them all to wind at the same rate over a considerable number of pulley revolutions, which is necessary in order that the Venetian blind be lifted with the bottom rail always paralleling the top rail.

The pulley is mounted n afbacking plate 26 which is secured to the wall by suitable screws 21 which also engage the front crank support plate 28. A square shaft 29 floats in a square hole in the pulley assembly to form a drive connection. The crank end of shaft 29 is slotted and in this slot is a key 30. A crank is suitably fastened to crank shaft 36 with a pin or square or spline and spring catch or any other suitable means such as is common in the automotive industry in connecting window regulator handles to their operating shafts. Crank shaft 36 has an enlarged cylindrically shaped end 36A which is split Aat one side. A bearing member supports -crank shaft 36 and surrounds the section 36A with clearance suiilcient to allow a clutch spring 4| to nest therein and bear against the inner diameter of the bearing 40. The ends of spring 4l are turned inward at IIA and AIB so as to intercept the key 36. This Whole construction is'similar to that used on automotive window regulators to prevent the window from being moved by its-.own exterior force acting on the glass itself, but t'o-.allow the raising and lowering operation of the"-g`lass by/means of the crank. In this instancdny force tending to operate the drum directly as t pull on the cords 2| through the-weight of the\ lind will act through key 3|! to press on the en 4|B of the clutch spring, causing it to tighten upirrthe bearing 40 and prevent the rotation of the drum, thus holding the blind securely in its raised position. However, when it is desired to lower the blind, operation of the crank in a Ycounter-clockwise direction will cause the cylindrical section 36A to contact the end of the spring HA, releasing the clutch spring 40 and allowing the easy lowering of the blind by means of the crank 36 but without any reaction on the crank tending to drive the crank by reason of the tension on the cords, so that the operator can lower the blind readily without feeling that he is resisting the weight of gravity on the blind, or without any danger of the blind running away in case his hand slips off the crank, as the pulley will not operate except as the crank is rotated in either direction. Also, when the blind gets to its lower extremity and the oord 2| is fully unwound' from' drum 22 so as to extend straight up from the hole 23, a further rotation of the crank in the direction that lowers the blind will then raise it, winding the cord in the opposite direction on the drum. The mechanism of the clutch spring and its release when operated by the crank moves equally effectively in either direction, allowing for a free lift, a positive hold at any height without any additional motions on the part of the operator, and a free lowering of the blind by the crank but with no danger of lowering by the action of the weight of the blind. This has been found by itself to be a very desirable and advantageous operation, to be extremelyfoolproof, and to involve the least friction of anyfdevic'e known to applicant.

In Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 I have shown another form of composite reel, preferably formed from stampings, in which l the lifting cords 2| are wound on'hub sections 22 similar to those illustrated in Figure 2 and separated by partition/ members 25 which are secured to a hub 50 which runs on an axle 5| suitably secured to a backing plate 52. A spring 53 urges the entire assembly towards the backing plate which has a projecting stop 52A formed therein which intercepts holes 25A in the rear partition plate. Stops 52A are so formed that they act as a ratchet in combination with the action of spring 53 tp positively lock the drum against counter-clockwise rotation when engaged with holes 25A. The outer partition plate has an extension 25B which carries a crank handle 25C for operating the reel. In operation, as it is desired to lift the blind,an outward pull is exerted on the crank 25C which compresses spring 53 by pulling the pulley bearing away from the backing plate 52, thus disengaging the catch 52A. The blind is then wound up to the desired height and then by releasing the outward pull on the crank 25C, spring 53 forces the pulley in so that ratchet 52A engages and locks the pulley against counter rotation which would be caused by the pull on the lifting cords 2I This forms a positive lock and is very simple and cheap to construct. It has the disadvantage during the lowering operation that if the hand slips off the crank, it tends to lock automatically, and the blind may be lowered a short distance before the catch is engaged. However, it has been tested and has been found to be quite satisfactory. i

In Figures 8,' 9, 1o, and 11 I have shownwyvo types of reels on which a single cord is wound in a wide groove. In Figures 8 and 9 the reel 60 1s made of metal, operated by a handle 6|, and pivoted on axle 62, which axle 62 is secured to a wall plate 63 by suitable screws or other fasteners. A stop 63A is preferably formed from the wall plate 63 and engages holes or depressions in the back plate A of the reel. A spring 64 on the axle 62 urges the reel towards the wall plate so that stop 63A' is effective to prevent counter rotation of the reel and to support the blind in any desired position. An outward pull on 'the handle during the raising or lowering operation compresses spring 64 and disengages the stop 63A during the winding operation similar to the operation described in connection with Figure 7. In Figures l0 and 11 the reel 10 is preferably formed of wood, fibre, or composition, and is operated by a handle 1| carried on the front plate 'l2 which is ymounted on a center section 13 on which the lifting cord or cords are wound.

A rear plate 11| also formata ,brakingy drum 14A about which a cord 15 is wound, one end of said t fcord being fastened to a suitable anchor 16 and the other end being attached toa spring `|1 so as to effectively operate asy a` one-way brake. When rotated clock-wise as rviewed in Figure 10,

, bund evenly'throghout its length; 'ro hold the the lifting cords of the Venetian blind will be 15 is anchored to a'rigid pivotja substantial` braking effort is exerted on the drumy which is suilicient to hold the blind in any desired position withoutthe necessity ofy engaging a rigid stop or auxiliary brake. o

v When it is desired to lower the blind, manual force on handle 1I in a counter clock-wise direction overcomes the action of cord 15 acting on the brake drum 14A and lowers the blind with the aid of gravity acting on the blind and pulling on the cords to tend to cause rotation in the same direction.

A pulley of the same type of construction can be formed from wood or other suitable inexpensive material by cutting one or more grooves of the same width as the cord forhandling multiple cord lift blinds, lifting each cord at exactlyL the same rate in a manner similar t that accomplished by the multiple grooves shown in Figures 3 and '1.

If the operator tends tocontinue winding the reel in a counterclock-wise direction after the blind has been fully lowered, it will start to raise again with the liftingcords winding'in the opposite direction but the effort reczmiredy to operate will be materially increased, as the force of the crank will have to overcome not only friction of the brake acting ina self-energizing direction `but the dead weight of the blind as well.

, This construction has been found to be exceedingly cheap, and effective, and during the present period when metals are diilicult to getthe wooden or composition structure offers many advantages.

blind in any desired positiomIhave provided av one-way brake withgabraking cord 80 suitably yanchored at 8| to the head rail or wall,y going around the oscillating' lifting rod86one ormore times, being adjustablysecured, the other end'of which is attached to an adjustablepring element 02 so that the structure acts" as acne-way brake resisting. rotation in a counterclock-wise direction,r `as viewed in Figurer 13, and offering only the resistance of the spring to rotation in a Cclock-wise direction in `which the blind islifted.

To increase the. action ofthe brake it may be desiredto apply the liftingcord totheoutside of the drum 83 attached to oscillating rodaB; however, in practicerIfhavefound that asuitable braking action can be applied by wrapping the braking cord y90 directly onthe' oscillating shaft, which `eliminates the problem .of a long drum to take care of the oscillating motion ofthe shaft during the winding operation. A further' varia- `tionof this brake is shown in Figure 15in which braking cable 94 is rigidly secured to the head rail by screw 85 while the other end `of thecord 8l is attached to the side guard element 88A by screw 0,6. The fact that the side guard is of thing..

cross section and yieldable allows it toact as a springto form a one-way brake for resisting ro-- tation ofthe oscillating rod 88 in a clockfwis'e direction. a

In Figure 14 I have shown a'meansfor keeping the lifting wires 8| from unwinding from the oscillating rod 86 when one endof thev blind would catch and hold up during the operation or when someone would raise the bottom rail ofthe'blind y for cleaning. looking out the window, or other l tightly and securely In place of spring 11 a weight may be used, which f 15 in a high temperature parafiine or other mois? ture-repellent compound,

In Figure 12 I have shown another variation in the application of the one-way brake to a lifting mechanism in which I have shown a Venetian blind provided with slats 80, lifting cords 8|, 02, 88, and 84. These may be of a cord, tape, or wire construction and are attached to the bottom rail 85 in any suitable manner. An oscillating winding rod 88 is mounted above the head rail 81 and `mounted there on any suitable bearings, one of which is preferably threaded to provide a lead feed to oscillating rod 08 so as to wind the lifting cords neatly and compactly during the lifting operation. At the end of oscillating rod-88 I have provided a spring-angled drive 8,8 formed by suitably anchoring a spring to the end of oscillatingrod 88 and attaching the other end of the spring to, crank rod 89. `By this means it can be seen lthat when, crank 80A is rotated, oscillating rod 86 will likewise be rotated at somewheres near right angles thereto, which will wind up lifting wires 8|, 82, 83, and 84 and lift the purposes. This consists of a softfroll 91 preferably of rubber suitably mounted on bracket 88 urged to contact with the wire 8| wound on rod 88 by spring 88. This keeps the wire 8| wound and keeps it from Jumping ofi.' when slackened.

In Figure 16 `I have shownv'a' modification. wherein a Venetian blind has lifting cords |0|,

|02, |03, and |04 passing over pulleys almost over the ladder tapes adjacent each cord. Inthis instance cords 0| and |04 are' on the near side of the blind adjacent the end ladder tapes while cords |02 and |03 are on the far yside of the blin'd adjacent the two center ladder tapes. A large diameter, horizontal pulley |05 is placedv at the left hand` end `of the head rail. Around this `pulley passes a single lifting cord |08 which is secureato the' ends or lifting cords' mainz, Ina, and |04.,y A large pulley |01 `with a horizontal y axis is located at the right hand side of the head rail over which single lifting` cord |08 passes.,` A`

winding reel` ||0 is provided with a handle and a tapered drum Il! and` a one-way brake Ill with a braking cord Il! similar in action to cord 18 in Figure 10. By the use `oi tapered drum` Ill, you are able to start lifting the blind` on the large portionv of the drum near the handle Irl I 'when the weight of the blind is not accumulated, as the slats are then supported largely on the ladder tapes and lift the blind with substantially constant veffort on `the 'lifting crank The eiiective leverage betweeny the crank and the radius on which the cord |08 is being wound increases as the blind is lifted4 andthe radius of winding the lifting cord decreases during the lifting operation, thus tending to maintain the same lifting effort on the crank while the blind is being raised. AThe one-way kbrake drum and associated brake band IH act to hold the blind in any desired position and to resist rotation which would lower the blind.

In Figure 17 I have shown a further modication wherein a series of tapered groove rolls |20 are mounted on oscillating shaft |2| which is suitably mounted on bearings supported on the head bearings |22, the left end one of which is preferably screw-threaded to give a lead action to the oscillating shaft |2I. A spring drive B8 connects the oscillating shaft |2| with the operating crank 09A similar to the construction described in connection with Figure l2. One-way brake drum |23 has a brake cord |24 wound thereon to resist rotation of the lifting drums |20 in the direction which would lower the blind. This method allows a larger radius for winding the blind when starting at lower weight and decreasing the radius on which the lifting wires are wound as the blind becomes more fully lifted, to maintain the same resistance on the lifting crank throughout the lifting operation.

In Figure 18 I have shown a slight modication of the one-way brake in which a drum |23 is mounted on the oscillating shaft |2| and a braking cord |25 is wound on the drum, one end being adjustably secured by bolt |26 and the other to a spring |21 which may be adjustable to change the tension.

In Figures 19, 20, and 21 I have shown still a furthervariation in which a roller bar |30 has a spring mounted therein in a manner similar to the usual curtain roller, but without the usual curtain stop catch. Lifting cords or wires |3| and |32 extend down by the ladder tapes |33 and |34 to the bottom rail |35. The action of the spring in the roller bar |30 tends to wind up the lifting wires |3| and |32 to lift the blind, but the action is not sufficient to overcome the weight of the bottom rail |35\ and is merely sufficient to keep the lifting wires |3| and |32 tight at all times. ably anchored to the head rail |31 at one end and to a spring |33 at the other end to offer oneway braking against rotation of the roller bar |30 in the direction which would lower the blind. A tilting cord goes through a l'cord-lock mechanism |4| over pulley |42 and |43 to be secured to one side of the ladder tape |33. A short cord |44 is attached to one side of the tape |33 and is secured to tilt cord |40 just above pulley |42. This acts to control-the tilt of the blind,AV

A spring-urged roller |45 bears against each of the lifting wires |3| and |32 while being wound on the roller bar to prevent them from being tangled in case they are slackened. Lifting cord |46 may be wound on roller bar |30 to resist the lifting of the blind which may otherwise be lifted by merely raising the bottom rail manually in which case the roller bar will keep the slack out of the lifting wires |3| and |32 while the one-way brake |36 will support the weight of the blind in any desired position. When it is desired to lower the blind, this may be done by merely taking hold of the bottom rail and pulling it down as desired, as against the action of the one-way brake and the slide action of the spring and roller bar. This forms an exceedingly simple Venetian blind which may be readily raised and lowered directly like a window shade, and may be tilted with a single cord |40.

While I have described various constructions in considerable detaill it is to be understood that One-way brakercord |30 is suit--y various modifications and departures from the construction described; and I do not wish in any way to limit myself to the exact details or mode of operation set forth in this specification and drawings, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made in the way of details without departing from the spirit and scope of nur invention which is set forth in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Venetian blind lifting device, including a drum, a handle for manually turning said drum, and an automatic brake for resisting rotation of said drum in one direction of rotation of said drum more than in the other direction.

2. A Venetian blind lifting device. including a drum, a crank handle for manually rotating said drum, and an automatic brake, said brake offering more resistance to rotation of said drum when rotated in one direction than to the rotation of said crank when rotated in the other direction.

3. A Venetian blind lifting device, including a drum, a flexible element wound on said drum, a handle for manually rotating said drum, and automatic means for preventing continued rotation in one direction of said drum when said flexible element is unwound from said drum.

4. A Venetian blind lifting device, including a drum, a handle for manually turning said drum, and an automatic brake for resisting rotation of said drum in one'direction of rotation of said element is unwound from said drum.

5. A Venetian blind, a lifting device for said Venetian blind, including two or more flexible elements, a reel on which said flexible elements are wound, a hand crank for operating said reel. and a connection between said hand crank and said reel, including an automatic brake, said automatic brakeoffering more resistance to the rotation of said drum by a pull on said flexible element than to rotation of said drum by manual pressure on said, crank in either direction of r'otation.

6. A Venetian blind, flexible elements for lifting said Venetian blind, a reel, a manual crank for rotating said reel. a ratchet, yieldable means for` urging the parts of said ratchet into cooperation to prevent rotation of said reel in one direction, and means controlled by the operator in contact with the handle alone for rendering said ratchet ineffective against desired rotation in the same direction of the drum which is normally prevented by said ratchet.

7. A Venetian blind, flexible elements for lifting said Venetian blind, and a friction element automatically actuated to oier greater resistance to said flexible elements when moving in` a direction to lower said blind than when moving in the direction to raise said blind.

8. A Venetian blind, flexible elements for lifting said Venetian blind, and a frictionelement automatically actuated to offer greater resistance to said flexible elements when moving in a direction to lower said blind than when moving in the direction to raise said'blind. said friction element acting on a brake drum.

9. A Venetian blind, flexible elements for lifting said Venetian blind. and a friction element automatically actuated to offer greater resistance to said flexible elements when moving in a direction to lower said blind than when moving in the direction to raise said blind, said friction element yditional pulleys and then acting on a brake drum and forming one or more wraps around said brake drum with one end of the brake anchored and the other end yieldably urgedto a tightening position.

10. A Venetian blind, flexible elem ents for raising said blind, a reel on which said flexible elements are wound during the raising operation of said blind,y crank means for manually rotating said reel, a exible spring drive between said crank and said reel, and a friction element acting on said reel offering substantially more resistance to rotation of said reel in the direction to lower said blind than to rotation in the direction for Yraising said blind.

11. A Venetian blind, having a head rail or equivalent, a multiplicity of flexible lifting elements, and a pulley at the top of said blind adjacent each flexible element over which said nexi- "ble element passes, all said flexible elements joined to a master flexible element, said master passing around one or more addown to a drum on which said master cord is wound, said pulleys being so arranged that the master cord can raise the blind a greater distance than the width of the blind without the junction of the multiple cords with said master cord appearing beyond or below the end of said head rail when the blind is fully lifted.

12. A Venetian blind, having a head rail or equivalent,` a multiplicity of flexible lifting elements, and a pulley at the top of said blind adjacent each flexible element over which said flexible element passes; joined to a master flexible element, said master flexible elements passing around one or more additional pulleys and then-,down to adrumon which said master cord is wound, said pulleys being so arranged that the master cord can raise the blind a greater mdistance than the width of the blind without the junction of the multiple cords and said master cord appearing beyond or below the end of said head rail when the blind is fully lifted, an automatic brake mechanism acting on said drum to offer a greater resistance to rotation of said drum to a blind-lowering operaexible element tion than to a blind-lifting operation.

all said flexible elementsy 13. A Venetian blind, one or more flexible ele.-` rnents for raising said Venetian blind, a drum on which said flexible elements are wound during the lraising operation, a hand crank for rotating tending to rotate it into a blind-lifting position.

at all positions of said blind, and an automatic brake acting on said drum offering substantially increased resistance to rotation of said drum in a blind-lowering direction, said resistance being suflicient to support the weight of said blind in any desired position, said resistance being not self-locking so that it may be overcome manually for lowering the blind by additional manual force on said blind or on said drum.

l5. A Venetian blind, a flexible element for raising said blind, a drum on which said flexible element is wound, a spring acting on said drum tending to rotate it into a blind-lifting position at all positions of said blind, and an automatic brake acting on said drum'offering substantially increased resistance to rotation of said drum in a blind-lowering direction, said resistance being suiilcient to support the weight of said blind in any desired position, said resistance being not self-locking so that it may be overcome manually for lowering the blind by additional manual force on said blind or on said drum, and an additional flexible element wound on said drum in such a direction that a manual pull on said exible element will cause said drum to wind in a blindlowering operation against said automatic brake to lower said blind manually where the blind might be out of reach of said operator.

BROOKSWALKER.

Patent No. 2,301,485 Granted November 10, 1942 BROOKS WALKER The above entitled patent was extended July 24 1951, under the provisions of the act of J une 30, 1950, for 6 years and 214 days from the expiration of the original term thereof.

Oammz'asz'omr of Patents. 

